News Briefs - Week of 6/19

HUNTERSVILLE – Firefighter Jeff Reid was released June 11 from a Chapel Hill hospital and driven home by a Huntersville firetruck following a bone marrow transplant.

The Huntersville Fire Department traveled frequently to check up on Reid.

In 2007, Reid was diagnosed with Chronic Lymphatic Leukemia, a type of blood cancer. He went through two rounds of chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant.

The Huntersville Fire Department worked with Carolinas Community Blood Center and Be the Match Foundation in April of last year to help find a cure for Reid.

Reid received his bone marrow transplant early in March of this year and remained strong through his journey to grow new stem cells.

The fireman served the Huntersville community for 31 years. He worked out of Station 2, located on Beatties Ford Road.

Chamber offers legislative briefing on lake access

CORNELIUS – The Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce will host a legislative briefing to discuss public access swimming in northern Mecklenburg County.

Jim Garges, director for Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation, will discuss plans to construct a public swimming beach at Ramsey Creek Park, which will open in summer 2016 or sooner.

Cornelius Mayor Chuck Travis is expected to discuss the benefits to area residents and businesses.

Mecklenburg County has budgeted $425,700 to design and implement the new beach using bonds which were approved by voters in a 2008 referendum.

The briefing will be held 8:30-10 a.m. June 20 at the chamber office, 19900 W. Catawba Ave.

Interested citizens who are not chamber members and wish to attend are asked to RSVP by calling 704-892-1922.

5K celebrates federal clean air victories

HUNTERSVILLE – Clean Air Carolina held its fifth annual 5K Run & Walk for Clean Air on June 7 at Rural Hill to raise awareness about the importance of clean air policies for public health and a sustainable planet.

Attendees added their names to large North Carolina maps calling on state senators to support President Obama’s call for carbon pollution limits on power plants.

Participants also signed comment cards in support of the new carbon rules, which will be mailed to the Environmental Protection Agency.

The 5K focuses on decreasing air pollution that triggers asthma and other respiratory problems in families.

Duke keeps eye on bonds

CORNELIUS – Once Cornelius leaders approve a 2015 fiscal year budget, they will shift focus to bond projects, according to Commissioner Jim Duke in a newsletter to constituents.

“Our next task is to evaluate projects that will be funded using about $10 million of our bond authority,” Duke wrote. “Critical to doing this right is citizen input to the process.”

HUNTERSVILLE – The Carolina Comfort Coalition has raised more than $75,000 toward opening the Serenity House of Huntersville, a place for terminally ill patients to stay at no cost for their last three months of life.

The nonprofit needs to raise another $25,000 to begin accepting residents.

“The need for this home continues to grow daily,” said Sam James, chairman of the campaign. “We have a current waiting list for potential residents.”

Carolina Comfort Coalition, a nonprofit that operates the Serenity House in Mooresville, has renovated a second location on Stumptown Road. The nonprofit partners with hospice programs and serves to raise awareness that a gap in care exists.

Tarte’s town hall takes place 7-8:30 p.m. June 20 at Huntersville Town Hall, 101 Huntersville-Concord Road. Jeter’s town hall begins at 6:30 p.m. June 23 at Huntersville Town Hall.

Jeter’s District 92 includes parts of Charlotte, Pineville and Huntersville. Tarte’s districts consists of the Lake Norman region.

Firefighters raise money for child

HUNTERSVILLE – The Huntersville Fire Department is collecting donations to help the 3-year-old son of a Huntersville police sergeant seriously burned June 14 in a lantern explosion.

“Griffin has undergone some skin grafting surgeries and is doing well, but the treatment and temporary housing is going to be expensive,” said Bill Suthard, public information officer.

The North Mecklenburg Chapter of the Police Benevolent Foundation set up the “Griffin Luthart Recovery Fund” at Wells Fargo bank.

Text the phrase COPS GRIFFIN to 85944 to donate $10 through your cell phone bill. Or donate financially to the N.C. Firefighter’s Burned Children Fund.

Leaders want bridge heightened

CORNELIUS – The Lake Norman Regional Transportation Commission passed a resolution June 11 at Cornelius Town Hall encouraging the N.C. Department of Transportation to “give serious consideration to raising the height of the Highway 150 West Bridge when finalizing its plan for the widening of Highway 150 West.”

“The public will gain access to the entire lake just by raising the bridge when they replace it,” Chairman Mac Herring said.